Sun-tanning chair



May 13, 1958 E. H. GARSON SUN-TANNING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1954 INVENTOR. [ow/N GA RJO/V WWI ATTORNEYS.

SUN-TANNING CHAIR Filed Jan. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L 7 7 4m 21W 12 5 10 2 INVENTOR. Ema/w HGARw/v ATTORNEYS.

United $tates Patent SUN-TANNING CHAIR Edwin H. Garson, New York, N. Y.

Application January 5, 1954, Serial No. 402,345

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-377) This invention relates to a sun-tanning chair particularly adapted for use in professional sun-tanning establishments using either the sun or ultra-violet ray lamps. However, the principles of the invention may be useful for other purposes.

One of the objects is to provide a chair on which a person may rest or recline and which will permit the person to be simultaneously exposed to ultra-violet radiation all over, including both the front and the back, and which requires only a single source of ultra-violet ray energy. Attainment of this object permits a person to be sun tanned in both the front and the back and, of course, on both sides as well. Other objects may be inferred from the following disclosure of a specific example of the invention. 7

This example is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective side view, Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 3 and Fig 3 is a top view of Fig. l.

The illustrated suntanning chair includes a seat 1 and a back rest 2 therefor. The angular relation between these parts may be made adjustable in any conventional manner. Both the seat 1 and the back 2.are made of material which is transparent to ultraviolet rays. Adequately thick glass of the proper composition may be used or a plastic may be used, but in any event the seat and back should pass ultra-violet radiation rays.

The seat 1 is supported by legs 3 which are relatively slender as compared to their length so that these legs cannot cast extensive shadows against the bottom of the seat 1 when rays are directed toward this bottom. As illustrated a chaise longue effect is provided by a leg rest 4 which is pivoted to the front edge of the chair seat 1 and provided with its own legs 5. This leg rest 4 is also made of material which is transparent as described.

A mounting assembly 6 extends backwardly from the rear pair of legs 3 and provides upstanding arms 7 spaced behind the chair back 2. Each of these arms 7 mounts an ultra-violet ray reflector 8 by means of an adjustable bracket 9 which is preferably of the universal motion type as exemplified by a ball and socket joint equipped with means for interlocking the socket parts in a releasable manner. Each of these reflectors 8 is relatively high and wide so that the two may be arranged relative to the chair back 2 to direct radiation to and through the chair back from a source of such radiant energy located in front of the chair so as to radiate directly to a person on the chair. Thus the front of the person is treated by therays While the back is simultaneously treated. By providing two of the reflectors 8 they may be angularly positioned as shown so as to assure sun tanning of the sides of the person.

Other arms 10 extend forwardly from the rear pair of chair legs in an offset manner relative to the seat 1 and at a level below the latter. There is one of these arms 10 on both sides of the chair and each arm mounts another reflector 11 of substantial extent in the forward 2,834,351 Patented May 13, 1958 direction of the chair seat 1, this mounting again being through a universal action type of joint 12 as described in connection with the joint 9.

These chair seat reflectors 11 may be angularly adjusted to reflect from the described source through the bottom of the chair seat 1 and the leg rest extension 4.

The legs 3 and 5 and the arm members 6, 7 and 10 may be made of metal and attractively chrome-plated. The reflectors 8 and 11 may be chrome-plated sheet metal, polished aluminum, or silvered glass panels. The attractiveness of the device may be completed by making the parts 1, 2 and 4 of tastefully and comfortably shaped plastic which is adequately transparent to the sun'tanning rays.

In use a person rests or reclines on the chair with a source of ultra-violet energy located somewhere above the chair. An attendant may then adjust the various reflectors individually so as to reflect the rays to all parts of the person not directly exposed to the source. Using this equipment the person may be quite thoroughly sun tanned all over so as to avoid the unsightly appearance of having a sun-tanned front and an untanned back as otherwise occurs frequently. Most sources of ultra-violet radiation also give off infra-red radiation which is normally considered to be both beneficial and pleasant. Using the new chair it is obvious that any kind of radiation to which the chair materials are transparent reaches practically all parts of a person simultaneously.

As is shown by the drawings the back rest 2 may be attached to the seat 1 by a hinge means of the type which may be locked at various positions. Therefore, the back rest 2 may be positioned horizontally so that the chair forms a bed on which a person may lie on while receiving from all directions the beneficial ultra-violet rays. It is to be understood that the source of the ultra-violet ray energy may be the natural sun or a suitable artificial source. Such devices may be of the type embodying a quartz tube containing mercury through which an elec' tric current is passed at a suitable potential. The device of the present invention is particularly useful in rooms using a plurality of such sources arranged at an elevated level. It will be understood that my invention may also be used in connection with reclining chairs, couches, or beds where, for example, therapeutic purposes are desired. The chair shown in my drawings may be employed or may be modified, as desired, for either sitting or reclining. Either a reclining chair, couch or bed may be used.

I claim:

A sun-tanning chair including a seat and a back both made of material which is transparent to ultra-violet rays and having legs which are slender as compared to their lengths for supporting the seat, a plurality of ultraviolet ray reflectors for the back of the chair, an ultraviolet ray reflector for each side of the seat of the chair, and a mounting assembly connected to the chair legs and mounting the respective reflectors each by means of an adjustable means permitting adjustment of the angularities of the reflectors relative to the chair so as to reflect rays from an ultra-violet ray source above the chair through the seat and back thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,220 McLeod June 17, 1930 2,208,291 Halpern et al. July 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 379,461 Italy Mar. 28, 1940 391,238 Germany Mar. 5, 1924 1,035,125 France Apr. 15, 1953 

